344 Description of the High Rock lUfpring. 



was visited as early as the year 1767, and no appearances to 

 justify such an opinion then presented itself, although the wa- 

 ter did not reach the top of the rock by several inches. 



Loran Tarbel, an aged chief of the St. Regis tribe of In- 

 dians, told the present Chancellor Walworth, that he visit- 

 ed this spring, when a boy, and that he was told by the In- 

 dians, that it once ran over the top, but owing to some of 

 their women* bathing in it, the water sunk into the rock, 

 and never afterwards showed itself. 



The conspicuous appearance which this rock presents, 

 must have introduced itself to the notice of the natives at a 

 very early period, and, although it was probably known and 

 visited by individuals whose business called them into the 

 woods, it does not appear to have attracted much attention 

 from the white population of the country, until about the year 

 1767,when it was visited by SirWm.Johnson,\vho then resided 

 at Johnstown, about thirty miles to the west of the Springs, 

 in the capacity of Indian Agent. From this period, " the 

 Spring," as the place was then termed, came more rapidly 

 into notice, and, for some years, was the only one to which 

 much consequence was attached. The extravagant stories, 

 told by the first settlers, of its astonishing effects in the cure 

 of almost every species of disease, are still remembered and 

 repeated by their too credulous descendants, which, in con- 

 junction with the mysterious character of this rock, continue 

 to attach an importance to the character of this water, in the 

 eyes of the vulgar, which no other fountain will probably ev- 

 er arrive at. 



From a recent analysis made with a view to the strictest 

 accuracy, the details of which will ere long be laid before the 

 public, this water is found to contain the following ingredi- 

 ents in one gallon, or 231 cubic inches : 



Muriate of soda, 189.18 grains 



Carbonate of soda, .... 12.464 



Hydriodate of soda, . . : , 2.5 



Carbonate of Hme, 69.29 



Carbonate of magnesia, .... 40.425 

 Oxide of iron, 3.85 



317.709 



'^ Ef AxdOdfiald ovtss. 



